Gulf states to counter Iran with largest exercise ever SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM Friday, December 29, 2006 ABU DHABI — The U.S. is advising the Gulf states in preparation for their largest ever military exercise to answer Iran's growing strategic clout in the region. Gulf Cooperation Council sources said the six Gulf Arab members would conduct an exercise by the regional Peninsula Shield force over the next two months. They said the exercise, hosted by Oman, would contain air, ground and naval components in the Gulf region. All six GCC states have agreed to participate in the exercise, GCC sources...